---
name: stardew-valley-image-generator
description: Generate Stardew Valley style pixel art images including avatars, social media backgrounds, pets, and plants. Automatically transforms simple descriptions into detailed pixel art prompts.
metadata:
  title: Stardew Valley Image Generator
---

# Stardew Valley Image Generator

Generate charming Stardew Valley style pixel art images from simple descriptions. This skill specializes in creating retro-style pixel graphics that capture the cozy, pastoral aesthetic of the beloved farming simulation game.

## When to Use

Use this skill when you want to:

- Create a Stardew Valley style avatar or character portrait
- Design a cozy social media background or wallpaper in pixel art style
- Generate cute pixel art pets or farm animals
- Create pixel art plants, crops, or flowers

**Trigger signals**:

- "stardew valley style" + any image type
- "pixel art" + "cozy/farm/pastoral" context
- "retro game style" + character/scene generation
- Requests for cute, simple, nostalgic pixel graphics

## What You Provide

You only need to provide a **simple description** of what you want:

- **Avatar**: "a farmer with blue hair and glasses"
- **Background**: "a cozy farm at sunset with chickens"
- **Pet**: "a fluffy orange cat sleeping on a porch"
- **Plant**: "a magical glowing flower for a fantasy garden"

The skill automatically enhances your description with detailed pixel art styling, color palettes, and composition guidance.

## Output

You will receive:

- **1-4 generated images** in PNG format (default)
- **Resolution options**: 1K, 2K, or 4K
- **Aspect ratios**: square (1:1), portrait (9:16), landscape (16:9), and more

## How to Use

### Step 1: Describe Your Vision

Provide a simple description of what you want to generate. Be as brief or detailed as you like.

**Examples**:

```
Generate a Stardew Valley style avatar of a young farmer with red hair 
wearing a straw hat and overalls.
```

```
Create a pixel art background showing a cozy farmhouse surrounded by 
sunflowers and a windmill at golden hour.
```

### Step 2: Specify Image Type (Optional)

You can optionally specify the type for better results:

- **Avatar/Portrait**: Character-focused, centered composition
- **Background/Wallpaper**: Scenic, wider aspect ratio
- **Pet/Animal**: Cute, simplified creature design
- **Plant/Crop**: Nature-focused, clean background

### Step 3: Adjust Settings (Optional)

If needed, you can request specific settings:

- **Aspect ratio**: `1:1` (square), `16:9` (landscape), `9:16` (portrait), etc.
- **Resolution**: `1K` (fast), `2K` (balanced), `4K` (high quality)
- **Number of images**: 1-4 variations

### Step 4: Receive Your Pixel Art

The skill will generate your Stardew Valley style image and provide the file path(s).

## Examples

### Example 1: Character Avatar

**Input**:
```
Generate a Stardew Valley style avatar of a librarian with purple hair 
and round glasses wearing a cozy sweater.
```

**Output**:
- 1 square pixel art portrait (1:1 ratio)
- Character with distinctive purple hair, round glasses
- Warm sweater in earth tones
- Simple, expressive face typical of Stardew Valley NPCs

### Example 2: Social Media Background

**Input**:
```
Create a pixel art background for my social media showing a peaceful 
farm scene with a barn, pond, and fireflies at dusk.
```

**Output**:
- 1 landscape image (16:9 ratio)
- Barn with warm interior lighting
- Reflective pond with lily pads
- Fireflies glowing in twilight
- Soft, muted color palette

### Example 3: Pet Portrait

**Input**:
```
Generate a cute pixel art of a black and white border collie sitting 
in a field of flowers.
```

**Output**:
- 1 square image (1:1 ratio)
- Simplified, cute dog design
- Surrounded by colorful wildflowers
- Bright, cheerful color palette

### Example 4: Fantasy Plant

**Input**:
```
Create a Stardew style magical plant with glowing blue crystals 
instead of flowers.
```

**Output**:
- 1 square image (1:1 ratio)
- Stylized plant with crystalline blooms
- Soft blue glow effect
- Dark background for contrast

## Edge Cases

### Vague Descriptions

If your description is too vague, the skill will make reasonable creative choices:

**Input**: "a farmer"

**Output**: A default farmer character with typical Stardew Valley styling (simple clothes, friendly expression, neutral colors)

### Conflicting Requirements

If you request elements that don't fit the Stardew Valley aesthetic, the skill will prioritize the pixel art style:

**Input**: "hyper-realistic detailed portrait of a farmer"

**Output**: A detailed but still stylized pixel art portrait with more intricate shading and details, maintaining the retro aesthetic

### Multiple Subjects

For complex scenes with multiple subjects, describe the overall composition:

**Input**: "a farmer feeding chickens near a coop with a scarecrow in the background"

**Output**: A cohesive scene with all elements in balanced composition

## Tips for Best Results

1. **Keep it simple**: Stardew Valley style thrives on simplicity
2. **Focus on key features**: Highlight 2-3 distinctive elements
3. **Use evocative language**: "cozy", "peaceful", "magical" help set the mood
4. **Specify time of day**: "dawn", "sunset", "night" for lighting effects
5. **Mention colors**: "pastel", "earth tones", "vibrant" for palette guidance

## Execution Contract

This skill uses the following execution path:

- **Image generation**: `oo::nano_banana_pro::nano-banana-pro-image-generate`
- **Prompt enhancement**: Local task `task: self::stardew-valley-prompt-builder` (protected)

The prompt builder automatically transforms your simple description into a detailed, pixel-art-optimized prompt with:

- Style keywords and modifiers
- Color palette specifications
- Composition guidance
- Technical pixel art parameters

## Limitations

- Cannot generate copyrighted characters from the actual Stardew Valley game
- Complex scenes may require multiple attempts for optimal composition
- Very specific color requests may not match exactly due to pixel art simplification
- Text or logos are not supported in pixel art style

## See Also

- `references/REFERENCE.md`: Detailed style guide and prompt templates
- For non-pixel art styles, use the general image generation skill instead